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Fish bits

Just returned from the Captain’s Party for the Dolphins fishing tournament, which is scheduled to take place Saturday at the Miami Beach Marina. Should be an interesting event, if it goes off, with Tropical Storm Barry churning in the gulf and bringing us some much-needed rain.

I have to hand it to former fullback Rob Konrad and the rest of the Miami Dolphins Foundation, they put on a really great event, very fan friendly. Of the players and coaches that were there, they were all very accessible to the fans and were happy to take pictures and sign autographs, even bigger names like coach Cam Cameron, Zach Thomas, Channing Crowder, John Beck, Lorenzo Booker, Yeremiah Bell and, yes, owner Wayne Huizenga.

Here are some notes seen and heard under the tent and out of the rain:

— Asked Huizenga what his reaction was to the news that running back Ricky Williams had flunked another drug test. I think Huizenga’s answer was very telling as to how far out of favor Williams has fallen in the organization.

“You know, I really haven’t even given it a moment’s thought,” said Huizenga, who was with his wife, Marti. “I really mean that. He hasn’t cross my mind in a while.”

Amazing that a guy with 7,097 yards and 47 touchdowns in six seasons has become such an afterthought.

I also asked Huizenga if he can see Williams ever playing again for the Dolphins. He stuck to his normal line.

“I leave all of that up to Cam and Randy,” Huizenga said.

— Quarterback Daunte Culpepper has not yet received medical clearance to resume practicing on a full-time basis;

— First-round pick Ted Ginn was not in attendance because he can’t attend most team functions until his class at Ohio State finishes exams. He is in South Florida, however. All of Ginn’s fellow draft classmates were seen, including quarterback John Beck. He had his wife, Barbara, in tow as she and their son, Ty, have relocated to the area to be with dad;

— Thomas was his usual gregarious self and seemed to be having a great time with his wife, Maritza. He said he’s done using a chef to prepare his meals, which contributed to a brief weight loss early last season. “Maritza’s the cook now,” Thomas said. “She’s doing all the cooking. And let me tell you, it’s all good. I’m eating great;”

— Ronnie Brown seems to be a big hit with his younger teammates, who were always around him. Brown and new backup Lorenzo Booker appear to have hit it off, as they were hanging out a lot together. Hey, those guys aren’t stupid. They know what Brown got paid for being the No. 2 pick in the draft.

For the record, Brown looks to be in very good shape and is very much done with weight being an issue.

— Chatted some with tight ends coach Mike Mularkey and safeties coach Brett Maxie. Mularkey is a very nice guy who I think didn’t get a fair shake down here under Nick Saban. Mularkey seems very content with where he is despite being just two years removed from being a head coach. And I don’t see anything wrong with that.

I was shocked — shocked — to learn that Maxie is 45-years old. His two sons are very impressive and very much in the mold of their old man.

I don’t know what it is about him, but talking to Maxie made me think that he’ll be a head coach at the college or pro level very soon. I thought the same thing about Mike Tomlin and look where he is now. Remember, Tomlin was a former defensive backs coach who was a coordinator for just one season before being named the Steelers’ head coach;

— I don’t enjoy pointing this out because I think everybody affiliated with the NFL is a grown person capable of making their own decisions. But I think I would be neglecting my job as a journalist if I didn’t point out that alcohol — a lot of it — was flowing at the function. That appeared to go against Commissioner Roger Goodell’s directive banning alcohol at team functions.

“Effective immediately clubs are prohibited from providing alcoholic beverages, including beer, in any club setting, including in locker rooms, practice or office facilities, or while traveling, including on team buses or flights.

“This prohibition extends not only to players, but to all team personnel, as well as to other guests traveling with the team or who have access to club facilities.”

However, a Dolphins representative told me the event was technically not a Miami Dolphins team function, it was a Miami Dolphins Foundation function. The Dolphins staffer also said the commissioner’s directive is causing some consternation around the league because it’s not laid out in black and white where alcohol can or can’t be served.

I’m not the moral police, so I’m not going to point out which team personnel — if any — enjoyed a few drinks. As far as I’m concerned, they’re of legal drinking age and can do what they want as long as they don’t break the law as a result.

UPDATE: I asked NFL spokesman Greg Aiello if the Dolphins were in violation of Goodell’s directive. His reply:

“No, they were not. The memo is meant to be directed at team flights, extending the longtime alcohol ban from locker rooms to team flights after games.”